Five arrested, charged in Canada over immigration scam



Tags: OFWs in Canada
Five officers and employees of a recruitment firm in Canada were arrested and charged for identity theft and falsification of documents after a year-long investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

A report on CBC Canada on Wednesday said employees working for Platinum Care, a recruitment and placement agency for foreigners, stole personal information from Canadians to create fake employment offers.

Enticed foreign workers would then enter the country through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which is used to fill temporary labor and skills shortages.

In a separate report, CTV News Canada said the suspects are allegedly responsible for bringing 53 workers to Canada "under fraudulent means.”

While they have been released from police custody, the following were charged with "numerous counts" of identity theft, forgery, and "uttering forged documents":

Rosanna Lim, 51, CEO of Platinum Care
Leahnette Acuna, 50
Shannon Lim, 25
Normita Mandoza, 58
Fazeina Sarlat, 52

Charles Jose, spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs, told GMA News Online in a text message that they are still verifying from the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa if the five are Filipinos.

Philippine Overseas Employment Agency Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac has yet to reply to any queries. The agency has earlier warned Filipino workers against work offers in Canada, particularly in the food services center.

In an earlier report, Cacdac said a moratorium is in effect on the food services sector's access to the Temporary Foreign Worker program.

“To avoid illegal recruitment, job applicants should reject offers of employment in pizza, hotdog, or other fast food franchise counters in Canada,” he said. — Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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